Quebec schools will not be immune from closure in the event of a COVID-19 outbreak. Teachers and young people who have been in close contact with a pupil declared positive will be withdrawn from schools.
• Read also: Back to class: the government plan expected on Monday
This is specified in particular by the procedure to be followed to curb the spread of the virus in educational establishments. Our Parliamentary Office got its hands on this guide, which is part of the revised back-to-school plan that the Legault government will unveil today.
This strategy is eagerly awaited by education stakeholders and parents of students.
Photo d’Archives, Simon Clark
The Minister of Education, Jean-François Roberge
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Critics have been firing since early August so that Minister Jean-François Roberge clarifies his game plan to ensure the safety of children for the start of the school year, while we fear a second wave of contamination of the virus.
The mask for 10 years and over
In particular, the government must decide whether adolescents should be masked at school.
Everything indicates that Quebec will force secondary and third cycle elementary students (5 and 6e year) to wear a face cover, according to the advice of Health Canada which recommends wearing a mask for students 10 years of age and over. It remains to be seen whether the young people will also have to keep it in class.
The guide states that a schoolchild who shows symptoms of the disease in class should be automatically isolated and follow Public Health guidelines.
Fever, cough, difficulty breathing, sore throat, loss of taste and smell, severe fatigue, severe loss of appetite, general muscle pain, vomiting, and diarrhea will force the isolation of a pupil.
Parents informed
When a child tests positive for COVID-19, all parents and school staff will be automatically notified.
“People considered to be at moderate or high risk are removed from the environment and tested,” the document specifies.
Children and adolescents who will no longer be able to attend class should not be left to their own devices, as was repeatedly denounced in the spring.
Distance educational support should be offered to students during the period of isolation, it is stressed.
Condemned classes
In the event of an outbreak, primary and secondary schools may have to condemn a classroom, or even close their doors for a time.
“An improvement in intervention measures (closing a class, closing a school, etc.) is possible after analysis by the public health authorities of the level of transmission of the virus in the environment and according to specific epidemiological indicators in the middle or in the region ”.
The procedure to follow in the event of COVID-19 in schools
If a student has symptoms in class
- It is automatically isolated
- One staff member looks after the student while waiting for a parent to pick them up
- An emergency kit provides the necessary equipment (masks, glasses, gloves, etc.)
- The room is ventilated, cleaned and disinfected after the student has left
- The parent should contact the 1 877 644-4545 as soon as possible and follow the public health directives that will be sent to it. Sick child should self-isolate at home until they receive public health guidelines
- Distance educational support is offered to the student
If a student has symptoms at the House
- The parent should contact the 1 877 644-4545 as soon as possible and follow the public health directives that will be sent to him
- Sick child should self-isolate at home until they receive public health guidelines
If a student obtains a positive COVID-19 test result
- All parents and school staff are automatically notified by the school when a case of COVID-19 is diagnosed in the school
- People considered to be at moderate or high risk are removed from the environment and tested
- The parent should contact the 1 877 644-4545 as soon as possible and follow the public health directives that will be sent to it. Sick child should self-isolate at home until they receive public health guidelines
- Distance educational support is offered to the student
If there are several cases of COVID in the same class or if the outbreak concerns several classes
- Regional public health officials give detailed instructions to the school which will be responsible for informing all parents and school staff
- In collaboration with the school administration, regional public health officials make recommendations if it is necessary to close a class or a school, depending on the situation.
- With the help of the school administration, teachers and staff, the student concerned or their parents, the public health department identifies close contacts that have occurred at the school
- People considered to be at moderate or high risk are removed from the environment and tested
- Distance educational support is offered to students
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